Paleo Basics & Beyond

Gadgets & Gear for the Paleo Cook

In this Chapter

Kitchen Equipment for Paleo Cooks

The paleo diet can be tricky to adhere to, but these gadgets will help in your pursuit of unprocessed, whole foods.

While we’re not much for diets (at least not in the traditional sense) at the test kitchen, we see the appeal of the paleo diet: the focus on whole foods, the emphasis on cutting out processed junk foods, and the importance of cooking at home are all good things. Below, we feature some essential gadgets and gear that should be in the kitchen of every paleo cook.

Top-Rated Paleo Gear

Paderno World Cuisine Tri-Blade Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer

Paderno Tri Blade Plastic Spiral Slicer

Vegetables are an integral part of the paleo diet, so it’s important to have creative ways to incorporate them into your meals. Spiralized vegetables can work as a main meal, a side dish, or a colorful and healthy addition to soups and stews. Our favorite model rapidly and effortlessly produces mounds of long, thick or thin strands and flat, wide ribbons. [Buy on Amazon | Read Our Review]

KitchenAid 6-Quart Slow Cooker

A slow cooker is an ultra convenient tool for paleo-friendly favorites like beef or chicken bone broth, mashed sweet potatoes, and hearty roasts and stews. The KitchenAid is the best slow cooker we've tested. Our editors liked its bright, intuitive control panel, with tactile buttons and beeps that alert you to changes, and cool-to-the-touch handles. [Buy on Amazon | Read Our Review]

Victorinox 8" Swiss Army Fibrox Pro Chef's Knife

Victorinox 8" Swiss Army Fibrox Pro Chef's Knife

Whether you're breaking down a whole chicken or chopping onions, a quality chef's knife is an essential piece of gear in any paleo cook's kitchen. The top priority for a good knife is razor sharpness. Our favorite from Victorinox is super-sharp with a textured grip that feels secure in the hand. And with a pricetag under $50, it's a steal. [Buy on Amazon|Read Our Review]

Lodge Color Enamel 6-Quart Dutch Oven

Not only is our Best Buy Dutch oven ideal for stews, roasts, and braises, it's also an ideal vessel for making ghee (pure butterfat with no dairy solids) at home. Our method is to put 1 pound unsalted butter in a Dutch oven and bake uncovered until all water evaporates and solids are golden brown, 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours. Cool, strain (see details below under the fine-mesh strainer), refrigerate, and use it for cooking for up to a year. [Buy on Amazon | Read Our Review]

The Best Paleo Chili

Recipe
Bison Chili

While ground beef chili recipes are a dime a dozen, we decided that a chili made with ground bison would be a great way to incorporate a different protein into the paleo meal rotation.

Vitamix 5200 Blender

Years of hard-core test kitchen use have not compromised this blender’s superior performance. Its 1,380-watt motor propelled it through most tasks—including soups and hummus—with ease. A perfect companion to any cook serious about the paleo diet. [Buy on Amazon | Read Our Review]

CIA Masters Collection Fine-Mesh Strainer

Our favorite fine-mesh strainer is ideal for any kitchen, but it's essential for making ghee (paired with a Dutch oven). After all the water has evaporated from the butter in the oven, the mixture is strained through a fine-mesh strainer lined with a triple layer of cheesecloth and set over a large bowl. The setup effectively strains the pure butterfat from the dairy solids to make ghee. [Buy on Amazon | Read Our Review]

ThermoWorks Thermapen Mk4

Capable of reading out accurate temperatures in 2 to 3 seconds, the Thermapen Mk4 is our favorite instant-read thermometer and an updated version of ThermoWorks’ Classic Super-fast instant-read thermometer, which we’ve used in the test kitchen for the last 6 years. Whether you’re temping turkey breast or pork chops, you’ll want to have this fast, accurate thermometer at your disposal in the kitchen. [Buy on Thermoworks | Read Our Review]

Vollrath Heavy Duty Sheet Pan

The test kitchen's all-time favorite baking sheet is useful for all types of cooking: roasting vegetables, baking energy bars, and even freezing chunks of meat before grinding them in a food processor. Stock up on these; they're dishwasher-safe, warp-resistant, and altogether essential. [Buy on Amazon | Read Our Review]

T-fal Professional Non-Stick Fry Pan, 12.5 inches

Our favorite nonstick skillet outperformed our previous winner, and costs a quarter of the price. This skillet from T-fal is well proportioned, with a comfy handle and generous cooking surface. Perfect for sautéing vegetables or frying eggs. [Buy on Amazon | Read Our Review]

Weber Premium Charcoal Kettle Grill (22-inch)

Weber Premium Charcoal Kettle Grill (22-inch)

Weber’s versatile, well-designed classic kettle is an expert griller and maintains heat well, and its well-positioned vents allow for excellent air control. The sturdy ash catcher makes cleanup a breeze, and of the grills we tested, it was the fastest and easiest model to assemble and move. If you’re doing paleo the right way, you’re grilling a lot. This inexpensive, high-performance kettle grill is perfect for grilling lamb chops and vegetable kebabs. [Buy on Amazon | Read Our Review]

Vegetables on the Grill

Recipe
Grilled Vegetable Kebabs

When it comes to grilled kebabs, vegetables are often an afterthought—we wanted to create a recipe that put the vegetables front and center.

We list suggested sources for recommended products as a convenience to our readers but do not endorse specific retailers. When you choose to purchase our editorial recommendations from the links we provide, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Free Cooking Newsletter

We make the mistakes so you don't have to.Get expert advice you won't find anywhere else.

Sign up for our cooking newsletter

How we use your email address
America's Test Kitchen will not sell, rent, or disclose your email address to third parties unless otherwise notified. Your email address is required to identify you for free access to content on the site. You will also receive free newsletters and notification of America's Test Kitchen specials.